Analysis

2026 NFL head coach hiring cycle: 24 young candidates to know

Published: Nov 19, 2025 at 10:55 AM

Tom Pelissero

NFL Network Insider

The NFL head coach hiring cycle is already ramping up, with the Titans' and Giants' searches underway. And it's shaping up to be one of the most wide-open in recent memory.

There is no Ben Johnson-type candidate -- the young, innovative offensive coordinator with such a track record of success that practically everyone clued into the hiring process believes he's a slam dunk to get a head job if he wants one.

Like last offseason -- when the Patriots moved swiftly to hire Mike Vrabel a week after dismissing Jerod Mayo, the then-73-year-old Pete Carroll was the Raiders' surprise pick and 50-somethings Brian Schottenheimer and Aaron Glenn both got their first head jobs -- this could be a cycle for the older and/or experienced guys. Mike McCarthy, a Super Bowl winner with a .608 career winning percentage, figures as a strong candidate. Others with prior head-coaching experience, such as Brian Flores, Leslie Frazier, Jeff Hafley, Vance Joseph, Todd Monken, Matt Nagy, Robert Saleh, David Shaw, Arthur Smith and Steve Spagnuolo, all had interviews last cycle. (Kliff Kingsbury also had interview requests, but declined them.) Other veteran coordinators, such as Lou Anarumo, Matt Burke and Anthony Weaver, should be in the mix. Several established college coaches could become involved in the search process. And nobody should be shocked if the names Bill Belichick and Jon Gruden come up at some point.

But many NFL owners are still inclined to search for The Next Sean McVay -- the rising young coach who could solidify the pivotal franchise role for a decade or more. In the eight cycles since the Rams hired McVay in 2017, more than half of all head-coaching hires leaguewide (29 of 57, 50.9%) have come from the same demographic -- under age 45 with no previous NFL head-coaching experience – including Ben Johnson (Bears), Liam Coen (Jaguars) and Kellen Moore (Saints) this past offseason.

Every year in this space, we endeavor to identify those young coaches who could get interviews this year, as well as names to remember in years to come. Because there's no Johnson, this year's list is as robust as ever, reflecting both the clouded nature of this year's pool as well as the increased number of interviews many teams have been conducting in recent searches amidst revised rules that slow and extend the hiring cycle.

This collection of names below is based on dozens of recent conversations with NFL executives, coaches and others close to the search process.

NOTE: The candidates in each section are listed in alphabetical order.

Candidates for the coming cycle

Bills OC Joe Brady, 36: A former William & Mary receiver and still one of the NFL's younger coordinators, Brady first appeared on this list in 2020, after he'd parlayed a national title run with the Joe Burrow-led LSU Tigers into the Panthers' offensive coordinator job. He got five head-coaching interviews after that season (with the Chargers, Eagles, Falcons, Jets and Texans) before things went south in Carolina. Back in a play-calling gig with Buffalo starting in the fall of 2023, Brady interviewed for the Falcons job again after that season and with the Saints, Bears and Jaguars last January after his first full season as OC. (He turned down an interview with the Jets.) Despite some recent struggles, the Bills rank second in yards per game (387.4) and fourth in scoring (29.2 points per game) this season. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen recently backed Brady publicly, saying he loves Brady like a brother and that he has "been awesome for my career." He'll be a hot name again.

Patriots passing game coordinator/TE coach Thomas Brown, 39: A one-time Falcons draft pick at running back whose playing days were cut short by injury, Brown moved swiftly into coaching, winning a Super Bowl with the Rams and old high school rival Sean McVay, who has called Brown "one of the greatest competitors I've ever been around." Brown was collateral damage in disasters surrounding the No. 1 overall pick the past two years. In 2023, he was in a back-and-forth play-calling situation with Bryce Young in Carolina, when the Panthers fired Frank Reich after 11 games. With Chicago last year, while Caleb Williams was struggling, Brown was promoted to interim OC (to replace the fired Shane Waldron) and head coach (to replace the fired Matt Eberflus) in an 18-day span. The Bears won their final game under Brown, stunning the Packers at Lambeau Field to end a 10-game losing streak. When he interviewed for the Patriots' OC job later that month, Mike Vrabel was so impressed, he found a spot for Brown on staff. Brown is no stranger to the interview circuit, having spoken with the Dolphins, Texans, Titans and Bears about their head-coaching jobs over the past four Januarys, respectively. With the Patriots rolling, Brown could get a look again.

Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile, 43: A former Rutgers safety and linebacker, Campanile coached for 14 years at the high school and college level before the Dolphins hired him as their linebackers coach in 2020. He brought his authentic, colorful coaching style -- memorably immortalized in a speech seen on HBO's Hard Knocks -- to the Jaguars in his first NFL coordinator job this year. And Jacksonville got off to a fast start, logging 14 takeaways in its first five games. Injuries in the secondary have contributed to some recent struggles. But if the Jaguars finish strong, it wouldn't be a surprise if some team takes a closer look.

Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter, 41: A one-time backup quarterback at Tennessee, Cooter was just 31 when he took over as the Lions' play-caller in 2015 and instantly sparked a turnaround for Matthew Stafford and Detroit's offense. A decade later, he's an integral piece of Indianapolis' No. 1-ranked offense, even though head coach Shane Steichen calls the plays. Steichen loves Cooter because he lives in the details -- leverage, spacing, timing, intent behind each look -- that can change the entire picture. Cooter's ability to stay one step ahead has been integral to the Colts' process and is one reason other teams may be intrigued to spend more time getting to know him.

Bears OC Declan Doyle, 29: One of the youngest coordinators in modern NFL history, Doyle spent three years as a student assistant at Iowa before then-Saints coach Sean Payton hired him as an offensive assistant in 2019. When Payton ended a one-year retirement to take the Broncos' head coaching job, he hired Doyle as tight ends coach in Denver, where Doyle spent two seasons before Ben Johnson hand-picked him to serve as OC. With the Bears off to a fast start and QB Caleb Williams playing better, Doyle's pedigree could compel some teams to at least want to pick his brain in January.

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, 44: A former college safety at UC Davis who went to training camp with the Raiders, Evero has coached all three phases -- offense, defense and special teams -- and was well-regarded at each stop during his previous 17 NFL seasons, working under everyone from Vic Fangio to Dom Capers. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams and then got his first DC job in 2022 with the Broncos, whose defense was a bright spot in a frustrating season. Same with the Panthers' defense in 2023, before injuries decimated the unit last season. Evero's defense has improved this season (13th in scoring) on a Carolina team in the playoff hunt. He interviewed for eight head coaching jobs in the hiring cycles after the 2022 and 2023 seasons, earning second interviews with the Colts, Falcons, Panthers, Seahawks and Texans, and could be in the mix again.

Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman, 39: A fifth-round draft pick of the Bears in 2009, Freeman never appeared in a regular-season game, but his story in pro football might not be written just yet. NFL teams -- including the Bears last year -- have inquired about Freeman in recent years amidst his meteoric rise in coaching, from his first GA job at his alma mater (Ohio State) in 2010 to his appointment as head coach of one of college football's most iconic programs (Notre Dame) 11 years later. Since taking over in the aftermath of Brian Kelly's midnight exit for LSU, Freeman has led the Fighting Irish to a 41-12 record and current No. 9 national ranking. He's an engaging presence who will win the interview -- if and when he's willing to take one.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard, 35: A former Yale player turned student assistant, Grizzard interned with the Panthers in 2012, coached Daniel Jones at Duke and returned to the NFL in 2017 with Miami, where he held a variety of roles under three head coaches before joining the Bucs last year. Injuries have decimated the Bucs' offensive line and receiving corps this season, Grizzard's first as OC. But the Bucs still rank in the top half in scoring (10th, 25.2 points per game) and lead the NFC South at 6-4. Dave Canales and Liam Coen got head-coaching jobs after their first seasons as Bucs OC. Could Grizzard make it three in a row?

Giants interim HC Mike Kafka, 38: A former NFL quarterback who was drafted by Andy Reid's Eagles in 2010, Kafka earned a strong reputation as a QB tutor after reuniting with Reid in Kansas City as a quality control coach in 2017. The Giants' surprise success in 2022, his first year as offensive coordinator in New York, helped propel Kafka's head-coaching candidacy; he has interviewed for eight jobs over the past three cycles and gotten second interviews for four of them (with the Cardinals, Seahawks, Texans and Saints). Kafka served as a head coach in the East-West Shrine Bowl (2024) and Senior Bowl (2025); earlier this month, the firing of Brian Daboll thrust Kafka into a more extended audition as the interim head coach on a Giants team depleted by injuries. At minimum, it's another opportunity for Kafka to demonstrate he can handle running the show.

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, 38: A former Colorado State safety, Kubiak is the son of Super Bowl-winning coach Gary Kubiak and, like his dad, an NFL lifer. He got his first NFL job as an offensive quality control coach in 2013 with the Vikings, who later brought him back as QB coach and eventually offensive coordinator. He has called plays at several stops -- none more successful than this year in Seattle, where the team ranks third in yards per play (6.18) and third in scoring (29.4 points per game), and Sam Darnold has played his way into the MVP conversation. Kubiak's low-burn personality is an asset in the pressure-cooker of play-calling, and the results on the field will put him in the conversation.

Rams OC Mike LaFleur, 38; pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, 35; and DC Chris Shula, 39: It's a good bet that one former Sean McVay assistant will get hired in any given cycle, especially when the Rams are rolling. And there are several logical candidates on staff this year. LaFleur -- the younger brother of Packers coach Matt LaFleur -- has been the Rams' OC the last three seasons after a stint calling plays with the Jets. McVay calls the plays in L.A., but LaFleur is heavily involved. So is Scheelhaase, a former Illinois QB who coached at his alma mater and Iowa State for almost a decade before McVay hired him last year. Shula, the grandson of coaching legend Don Shula, has assisted his old Miami (Ohio) teammate McVay since 2017, spending the last two years as DC. It wouldn't be a shock to see all three get interview requests in this cycle, with Shula perhaps the closest to being ready for the big seat.

Chargers DC Jesse Minter, 42: A one-time wide receiver at tiny Mount St. Joseph University in Delhi Township, Ohio, Minter is part of the Michigan-Baltimore-Harbaugh connection that helped land Mike Macdonald the Seahawks' head-coaching job two years ago. Like Macdonald, Minter worked under John Harbaugh with the Ravens (2017-2020) and Jim Harbaugh at Michigan (2022-23) before returning to the NFL and having one of the league's best defenses. This season, the Chargers rank fourth in yards allowed (280.2 per game), fourth on third downs (34.2%) and eighth in scoring (20.3 ppg). Minter has traits -- leadership, presence, confidence, player evaluation skills -- that would translate well into a head job. Jim Harbaugh has spent two years serving as Minter's de facto campaign manager in media interviews. It didn't land Minter an interview last year, but this cycle figures to be a different story.

Eagles OC Kevin Patullo, 44: A former quarterback and receiver at USF, Patullo has held all kinds of titles -- offensive quality control, QB coach, WR coach, pass game coordinator, associate head coach -- and leadership roles since entering the league as a QC with the Chiefs in 2007. He has been on Nick Sirianni's staff since their days in Indianapolis and has been exposed to all parts of building the program, helping prepare him for whenever his opportunity comes. Now in his first year as OC, Patullo has faced scrutiny as the Eagles offense has scuffled to find its footing, in a market that can be as tough as any when things aren't going well. But the Eagles still rank in the top half of the league in scoring (23.4 points per game, 16th), thanks in part to an NFL-best 75% red-zone touchdown percentage, and they sit comfortably atop the NFC East at 8-2. Two of Sirianni's last three coordinators (Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore) landed head-coaching jobs. If the Eagles keep winning, it only makes sense that teams will at least consider making Patullo the third.

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing, 38; and DC Nick Rallis, 32: When Jonathan Gannon took the Arizona head coaching job three years ago, he assembled the NFL's youngest staff, with designs on letting bright young coaches he knew well grow into big roles. And while it's been a trying season for the Cardinals, who sit at 3-7 with five one-score losses, people around the league have taken notice of how the plan is unfolding. Last year, the Bears had a head-coaching opening and interviewed Petzing, a one-time Middlebury College defensive back who has risen through the ranks, starting as a football operations intern with the Browns in 2013. Two of Petzing's three seasons as OC have been impacted by injuries to QB Kyler Murray; Arizona has still made strides as this season has gone on. Rallis, a former Edina High School and Minnesota linebacker (and younger brother of WWE star Mike Rallis, a.k.a. Riddick Moss), is considered a rising star. Gannon brought him to Philadelphia and then Arizona, where Rallis calls the defensive plays. Like Arizona's offense, the defense, too, is middle of the pack. But many within the league believe it's a matter of when, not if, Rallis gets his shot to run the show.

Bengals OC Dan Pitcher, 38: A college QB who was a finalist for the Division III version of the Heisman Trophy, Pitcher broke into the NFL as a scout with the Colts in 2012 before joining the Bengals in 2016 as an offensive assistant. He held a variety of titles in Cincinnati, including a game-management role in 2019, before being promoted to OC when Brian Callahan got the Titans job two years ago. Pitcher doesn't call plays -- that's Zac Taylor -- but puts together most of the game plan with input from other coaches and collaborates with Taylor leading up to and on game day. Following a slow start, the Bengals' offense actually took off this season after losing star QB Joe Burrow to injury, keeping Cincinnati in games week after week in spite of the NFL's last-ranked defense. Pitcher's diverse background and level demeanor are assets for a future head coach.

Falcons OC Zac Robinson, 39: A star quarterback at Oklahoma State who was drafted by the Patriots and bounced around for parts of four NFL seasons, Robinson worked as a private QB tutor and Pro Football Focus analyst before Sean McVay hired him as the Rams' assistant QBs coach in 2019. While Atlanta's offense has been inconsistent this season, ranking 16th in yards (332.5 per game) and 27th in points (19.5), Robinson has the traits -- detailed, organized, demanding, charismatic -- to be a head coach eventually, whether at the NFL or college level.

Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard, 37: An eight-year NFL veteran as a linebacker, Sheppard finished his playing career in Detroit and rejoined the team on Dan Campbell's staff as outside linebackers coach in 2021. When Aaron Glenn got the Jets job last January, it was an easy decision to promote Sheppard, whose high-octane personality and understanding of the big picture immediately impressed in the bigger role. Detroit's defense hasn't missed a beat, improving in many categories from 2024 with the return of star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Campbell believes Sheppard will be an outstanding head coach sooner than later. For any team seeking the next Dan Campbell, Sheppard fits the mold.

Dolphins OC Frank Smith, 44: A 16th-year NFL coaching veteran with a background in tight ends and the offensive line, Smith is in his fourth year on Mike McDaniel's staff in Miami, where he's involved in all aspects of running the program. While McDaniel calls the plays, Smith is a big piece of game-planning for a Dolphins offense that's finally getting healthy. Smith's close relationships with players are a strength; the Dolphins offense has improved since Smith moved from the booth to the sideline, allowing him to interact directly with players on game day. The Panthers and Seahawks interviewed Smith for their head-coaching vacancies after the 2023 season, when an NFL Players Association poll of players rated him the NFL's No. 1 offensive coordinator. Smith has big ideas about how he'd run his own show and figures to get another chance to present them soon.

Packers OC Adam Stenavich, 42: An All-Big Ten offensive lineman at Michigan who bounced around for parts of five NFL seasons, Stenavich returned to pro football as the 49ers' assistant offensive line coach in 2017 and then the Packers as OL coach in 2019. He handles most of Green Bay's run game and works with not only the offensive line, but the quarterbacks, too. The Green Bay offense has scuffled recently amidst a rash of injuries to key players. But Matt LaFleur considers Stenavich an invaluable asset, and he's already on the radar. Stenavich got an interview for the Bears' head-coaching job last year, in addition to multiple interviews for play-calling OC jobs. He'll remain in the mix.

Browns AHC/STC Bubba Ventrone, 43: A 10-year NFL special teams standout, Ventrone started his coaching career as a special teams assistant with the Patriots in 2015 -- earning a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 2016 Pats' staff -- before getting the Colts' special teams coordinator job in 2018. Now in his third year as the Browns' assistant head coach, Ventrone gets even more time in front of the team, building on his understanding of the big picture. Mike Vrabel, a former teammate of Ventrone's in New England who spent last year on Cleveland's staff, recently raved about Ventrone and said, "I'm sure that if presented with those opportunities, he would do an amazing job with any head-coaching opportunities that would come his way." Ventrone was selected to coach in last year's Senior Bowl, a small audition for a future opportunity -- and his American team mounted a dramatic comeback win. It's rare for special teams coordinators to even get an interview, but it worked out well for Baltimore with John Harbaugh.

Broncos offensive pass game coordinator/QB coach Davis Webb, 30: A third-round pick by the Giants in the 2017 NFL Draft, Webb spent parts of six seasons as an NFL QB. But he always planned for a future in coaching. He's been on the fast track since Sean Payton hired him as quarterbacks coach in 2023 and was promoted this year. Payton even let Webb call plays in the second preseason game -- one in which a group of mostly second-stringers put up 24 points in the first half against Arizona. Those who know Webb believe it's a matter of when, not if, he becomes an NFL head coach. Even with Denver's offense up and down, the Broncos are 9-2, and Webb's first look could come this January.